For the first time since 1948, the year of the Palestinian Nakbah, a massive march is being staged with the participation of huge crowds, as all Palestinian refugees, inside and outside the Palestinian territories, will take part in this event. Therefore, special preparations will be made for this march, as whole Palestinian families, including children, will attend it.

This march, which came 70 years later, is of great significance, and holding it now constitutes an important move in the Palestinian strategy regarding handling the right of return. The Palestinians have waited long for an international recognition of their right of return, but they are fed up with waiting.

Every nation living under occupation has the right to resist and make every effort to stand up and claim its rights. The March of Return, which will be held inside the Palestinian territories and in the world’s capitals, is an important form of resistance and has a great significance not less than the armed resistance, which is the most efficient way of resistance and the shortest way to liberation and achievement of return to our homeland.

The significance of the March of Return lies in the following:

It proves that Palestinians will never give up any of their rights and will stand up for them.

The upcoming generations of Palestine refugees will uphold their right to return to their homeland in a way that shocks those who compromise or try to liquidate this right.

All Palestinian, Arab, and international policies that aim at liquidating the right to return or integrating the Palestinians into other societies have failed.

March of Return is a public response to allegations that ‘Israel’ is a Jewish-only state, which is an Israeli condition, backed by the United States and accepted by some publicly-outcast Palestinian parties, to take part in the so-called ‘peace process.’

This march will have an international impression in this regard, as the marches and protests will be held in front of the Israeli embassies and the UN offices across the world. Crowds of Palestine refugees and the Arab and international supporters will take to the streets heading to borders of Jordan, Lebanon, West Bank, Gaza Strip and the Palestinian lands occupied in 1948. This event will cause political and media crises for the Israeli occupation and will have repercussions even after the end of the event and highlight a question to the world about how to deal with Palestine refugees, who do not forget or give up their rights.

This march is held in retaliation for the systematic aggression against the Palestinians, which aims at liquidating them especially in the Gaza Strip. Enemies of Palestinians view Palestinian silence as a chance to reach deals without recognising that this is the calmness which precedes the storm.

Gaza Strip, whose residents have a tendency for rebellion, resistance and resilience as they are the spearhead of resistance against the Zionist occupier, is a major component of this march.

The Great March of Return is a public protest that supports the Palestinian right to resist the occupation and the Palestinians to stand up for their rights and set their conditions on top of the international agendas.

The day of March 30 must be a preliminary for the Great March of Return which will be the starting point of returning to Palestine on the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakbah and the turning point which will break off the deluded negotiations and peace process.

March 14, 2018 marks the 12th anniversary of the infamous Zionist attack on the Jericho prison and the kidnapping of Ahmad Sa’adat, the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and his comrades Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh, Majdi Rimawi, Hamdi Qur’an and Basil al-Asmar, along with Fuad Shoubaki, in a violent attack on the Palestinian Authority prison. The repercussions of this attack are still being felt today, as the kidnapped Palestinian leaders face lengthy sentences inside the prisons of the Zionist colonizer.

The assault on Jericho prison underlined the network of repression and collaboration that had already seen Sa’adat and his comrades imprisoned in a Palestinian Authority jail for over four years before the attack by Israeli occupation forces. Not only was the PA imprisoning Palestinian leaders and strugglers for their role in resistance to Israeli occupation, the prison at Jericho was secured not solely by Palestinian guards but by U.S. and British guards, colonial authorities maintained in place in order to cement their imprisonment. Among the British guards at Jericho prison reportedly were those who had previously served as prison guards against Irish republican prisoners jailed for their struggle against British colonization of Ireland.

Prior to the attack, the U.S. and British guards left their positions in a clear sign of coordination that made clear that their mission to “ensure the security” of the prisoners was always a mere facade; instead, they were present to serve the interests of the occupation, which carried out its assault on Jericho with U.S.-made and U.S.-funded weaponry and armed bulldozers. The imprisonment of Ahmad Sa’adat and his comrades is a direct result of the actions of U.S. and British forces alongside that of the Israeli occupation – not to mention the treachery of the Palestinian Authority.

It was the continued security cooperation of the Palestinian Authority with the Zionist occupation that meant that these Palestinian strugglers and leaders were locked up and held behind bars for over four years in a “Palestinian” prison, even in defiance of the Palestinian Authority’s own laws and courts. They were seized after the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine carried out the assassination of far-right, racist extremist Zionist tourism minister Rehavam Ze’evi in retaliation for the Israeli assassination of PFLP General Secretary Abu Ali Mustafa; like the attack on Jericho, the assassination of Abu Ali Mustafa was conducted by Zionist forces using U.S.-made and -provided helicopter-fired missiles directly into his Ramallah office.

Palestinian Authority security coordination ensured that Ahmad Sa’adat and his comrades were under full view of the occupying forces at all times, where they could be attacked and abducted at the whim of the occupier. Indeed, the pretext used for the assault on Jericho was that recent Palestinian Legislative Council elections had indicated that Palestinians were unwilling to allow their prisons to be used any longer to jail their own leaders and strugglers. However, 12 years later, security coordination continues and Palestinian resisters remain behind bars in PA prisons. The Israeli occupation prisons and PA security services are a “revolving door” for Palestinian strugglers who face repression, surveillance and imprisonment at every turn.

Today, Sa’adat and his comrades are leaders behind bars as their resistance continues at the heart of every mass hunger strike, protest and struggle of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement. Sa’adat was subjected to over three years in solitary confinement until the 2012 mass hunger strike won his return to the general population along with 18 other prominent Palestinian leaders. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison on charges of “incitement” and his leadership role in the PFLP, while Abu Ghoulmeh, Rimawi, Qur’an and al-Asmar are all serving life sentences in Zionist colonial prisons.

In Israeli prisons, they continue to struggle, on the front lines of daily confrontation of the Zionist occupation, from their confrontation of the attacking forces and raids that invade their cells daily to their political struggle for the liberation of Palestine and their people. In messages released from prison, they urge solidarity with all imprisoned strugglers, urge Palestinian unity to confront the occupier and tell their stories of imprisonment, resistance and struggle. They are among the over 6,100 Palestinian political prisoners who daily lead the Palestinian struggle for liberation and inspire the strugglers everywhere around the world who stand with Palestine.

On this notorious anniversary, the Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat renews its call and its dedication to intensify and build its efforts to struggle for the liberation of Ahmad Sa’adat, Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh, Majdi Rimawi, Hamdi Qur’an, Basil al-Asmar and all of the Palestinian strugglers imprisoned for their commitment to liberation for their people and for the world. Their imprisonment highlights the importance of confronting Zionist colonialism and U.S. and British imperialism and also PA security coordination and collaboration in order to free the Palestinian prisoners and win a free, liberated on the entire land of historic Palestine.

Geneva- The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor published a report today detailing the series of measures to reduce relief services and staff by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), investigating the resulting catastrophic impact on Palestinian refugees residing in the agency’s five fields of operations.

The reduction of UNRWA services means depriving more than five million and 800,000 Palestinian refugees of basic services such as education and healthcare. It also means causing a closure of 702 UNRWA schools, depriving more than 500,000 refugee students of access to education and the collective layoff of some 30,000 of the Agency’s staff members, furthering the precarious humanitarian and social situation.

Pierre Krähenbühl, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, promised that his agency will continue to provide its services to Palestinian refugees, despite the fact that the financial crisis facing the agency as a result of huge US funding cuts and the failure of the international community to take concrete steps to support the agency has started to take its toll.

UNRWA has already started taking effective steps reducing its services provided to refugees and downsizing the organization, according to Euro-Med Monitor’s team, a step that is likely to be followed by others leading to the termination of the agency’s work, which Israel has repeatedly called for.

The UNRWA administration in the Palestinian territories, providing services to some 2.5 million refugees, has notified dozens of employees, including 97 engineers from the Gaza Strip alone, of its intention to change their contracts into ‘daily-labor’ contracts, a move that could be followed by the termination of their employment contracts.

Amjad al-Rifi, an UNRWA staff member in the Gaza Strip, said in an interview with the Euro-Med’s team: “The UNRWA administration informed me and 97 of my colleagues that it does not intend to renew our contracts even though we have been holding positions for seven years now, as a result of the agency’s financial crisis”.

The report also reviewed testimonies of Palestinian staff and refugees in Jordan, who said that UNRWA had stopped all daily-labor contracts at UNRWA’s health centers and schools, terminating the employment of 100 day-workers in the health and education sectors. It has also suspended the financial provision allocated for any new services or activities, in addition to periodically-held workshops and training sessions.

In Lebanon, the report noted, UNRWA has taken similar steps to reduce its services, which benefit about half a million refugees in the country. It has forced 105 teachers into retirement before the end of their contracts, and has not announced any new vacancies, in addition to terminating contracts of daily-labor teachers.

Euro-Med Monitor documented in the report UNRWA’s reduction of the amount of fuel sent to its schools in Lebanon, as well as the termination of leases for buildings used as educational institutions. This means that many schools could be shut down, which would deprive more than 37,000 registered Palestinian refugees in Lebanon of their right to education.

Furthermore, the report monitored the reduction of the budget allocated to the health care program in Lebanon and the termination of contracts of a number of doctors, which could result in shutting down 27 UNRWA medical clinics providing their medical services to refugees.

In Syria, the report indicated that there used to be more than 600,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria, including 480,000 people who are still living there under difficult living conditions following seven years of conflict, warning that their tragic situation cannot bear any reduction in UNRWA’s basic services. Ninety-five percent of them are food insecure, and 93% are classified as ‘vulnerable’ or ‘too vulnerable’. Unemployment rates among Palestinian refugees in Syria have already reached 52.2%.

Euro-Med Monitor concluded by warning that the termination of UNRWA services does not only affect relief services given to Palestinian refugees, but also constitutes an impediment to their right of return.

The agency’s very existence since establishment has been tied to the provision of services to the Palestinian refugees until a fair solution to their cause has been reached in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 194, which states the right of the Palestinian people to return to the towns and villages from which they were forced out as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and the establishment of the State of Israel.

The presence of UNRWA means the continued treatment and recognition of these Palestinians as refugees, not residents of the new countries/towns they settled in following their displacement.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor calls on the international community to protect UNRWA and provide legal, financial and also moral support to ensure its continuation by allocating a fixed budget within the United Nations budget rather than merely relying on voluntary contributions from Member States.

Euro-Med Monitor also calls on international institutions, organizations and bodies to unite their efforts to support UNRWA and to challenge this funding reduction, which amounts to evasion of responsibility.

On the issue of the ongoing meetings of Hamas’ delegation with the Egyptian officials in Cairo, Member of Hamas Political Bureau Hussam Badran stated the following:

Hamas’ meetings with the Egyptian officials in Cairo are going on positively. As an outcome of the meetings, an Egyptian delegation is to arrive in Gaza on Sunday to follow up the reconciliation.

Hamas’ delegation, headed by Chief of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh, had a positive response regarding the Egyptian efforts to facilitate the life of the people in Gaza Strip, as well as regarding the reconciliation.

Hamas will make the mission of the Egyptian delegation as easy as possible and will take all the needed measures that guarantee a successful follow up of implementing the reconciliation and reinforcing confidence ahead of achieving the prospected national unity; especially amidst the major challenges facing the Palestinian cause and the dangers posed to the Palestinian rights.

Member of Political Bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas

Demontsration of the “banana posture” used by the Shin Bet (Photo: AP)

GENEVA (20 February 2018) – The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, expressed his utmost concern after a December 2017 ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court exempting security agents from criminal investigation despite their undisputed use of coercive “pressure techniques” against a Palestinian detainee.

“This ruling sets a dangerous precedent, gravely undermining the universal prohibition of torture,” the expert said. “By exempting alleged perpetrators from criminal investigation and prosecution, the Supreme Court has essentially provided them with a judicially sanctioned ‘license to torture’.

“I urgently appeal to all branches of Israel’s Government to carefully consider not only its own international obligations, but also the consolidated legal and moral views of the international community, before whitewashing methods of interrogation that are more closely associated with barbarism than with civilization.”

In 2007, Assad Abu Ghosh, a Hamas affiliate from Nablus in the West Bank, was arrested and interrogated by the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) about laboratories producing explosives for Hamas, and about possible plans for terrorist attacks.

The Supreme Court acknowledged that, during his interrogation, Mr. Abu Ghosh had suffered coercive “pressure techniques” but said these techniques did not amount to torture because they had not caused sufficiently severe pain or suffering.

“This argument is unacceptable,” said the Special Rapporteur. “Any interrogation technique that intentionally inflicts pain or suffering of sufficient intensity to make the victim confess or cooperate amounts to torture, and this certainly is the case for the methods used during Mr. Abu Ghosh’s interrogation.

“Mr. Abu Ghosh was reportedly subjected to ill-treatment including beatings, being slammed against walls, having his body and fingers bent and tied into painful stress positions and sleep deprivation, as well as threats, verbal abuse, and humiliation.

“Medical examinations confirm that Mr. Abu Ghosh suffers from various neurologic injuries resulting from the torture he suffered.”

Mr. Melzer also criticized the court’s acceptance of the so-called “necessity defence”, under which the interrogation techniques were held to be warranted because of grave suspicions that Mr. Abu Ghosh had information about life-threatening terrorist activities.

It was “completely irrelevant” whether the torture had yielded useful counter-terrorist intelligence in this case, the Special Rapporteur said.

“Torture has been universally outlawed not because it never works, but because of its fundamental and irreversible assault on the human dignity of everyone involved,” he said.

“Once we start justifying torture based on utility or necessity, we cross a red line beyond which even the most categorical prohibitions of international law can be sacrificed in the name of a purported greater good.

“The absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment is one of the most fundamental achievements in human history, and its violation is listed among the most serious international crimes, including crimes against humanity and war crimes. No circumstances, however exceptional and well argued, can ever justify torture.”

The Special Rapporteur said he remained keen to engage in a “direct and constructive dialogue” with the Israeli authorities to achieve a complete ban on torture.

Beirut, February 16, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the arrest of Palestinian journalist Abdul Mohsen Shalaldeh. Israeli security forces arrested Shalaldeh, a reporter for the Hamas-affiliated Quds News Network, at his home in the southern West Bank town of Sa’ir, on February 15, according to news reports, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, and Shalaldeh’s brother, Loay.

Loay Shalaldeh and Nabhan Khraishi, the communication officer of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, told CPJ that Israeli troops seized three phones–two of which belonged to Abdul Mohsen Shalaldeh –and a laptop, in a dawn raid on the journalist’s house.

Loay Shalaldeh added that the family has not been told where his brother is being held or the reason for his arrest.

The Israeli Defense Forces did not immediately reply to CPJ’s email requesting comment.

“Israeli security forces should either bring charges against Palestinian journalist Abdul Mohsen Shalaldeh so that he can defend himself, or release him immediately and cease interfering with his ability to do his job,” said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour from Washington, D.C.

Shalaldeh covers human interest stories and news in the West Bank for the news website, Quds News Network. Recent stories includes a piece on a young Palestinian who continues to protest at al-Arroub refugee camp despite being injured several times by Israeli forces and on the son of a suicide bomber excelling in high school.

Palestinian authorities blocked access to Quds and several other news websites affiliated with Hamas and former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan in June 2017, according to the regional press freedom group SKeyes. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said that access to Quds in the West Bank is still blocked.

Shalaldeh also shared posts and commentary on his Facebook page, including a picture earlier this month of Hamas activist Ahmed Nasser Jarrer, who was killed by Israeli security forces on February 6. The Israeli home security service accused Jarrer of being responsible for the murder of a rabbi last month, news reports said.

Shalaldeh was previously detained for questioning by the Palestinian General Intelligence Service in the West Bank city of Bethlehem in mid-July for conducting street interviews about a Palestinian cybercrime law, according to news reports.

]]>The Great Return March (GRM) – First statementhttp://gaza.scoop.ps/2018/02/the-great-return-march-grm-first-statement/
Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:39:22 +0000http://gaza.scoop.ps/?p=5184PRESS STATEMENT
The Coordinating Committee- The Great Return March (GRM)

In the Name Of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful

“Return is the people’s choice”

With firm faith in Allah and trust in Him, and with belief in the sacred right of the Palestinian refugees to return, we announce the dawn of return to our homeland; a rally that has just been launched and will develop to weave the strands of return from the hopes of our homeless people, the sacrifices of our prisoners and wounded, and the struggles of our people.

It is a continuation of our long struggle that includes the 2011 March of Return and the 2012 Global March to Jerusalem.

The war of 1948 ended 70 years ago and there is absolutely no justification for the refugees to be prevented from returning to their homes.

International resolutions were adopted, notably Resolution 194 calling for the return of the refugees. Now, the decision is in their hands for they have determined to exercise their inalienable right of return peacefully, at a time of their choice.
The Palestinian refugees have never been far removed from their homes; many live just a few hundred meters away, or simply separated from their original homes by barbed-wire fences. The time to return has come.

The refugees’ lands, villages and towns beckon their return; some of them were never inhabited since the Nakba. So why can’t they exercise their right when they still possess the deeds to their lands and keys to their homes?

The refugees are tired with the misery of the camps; they strongly believe that their lands and homes are more accommodating than the camps of indignity. What prevents them, therefore, from leaving the wretched camps and regaining their dignity?

There is no justifiable reason to await any longer political solutions that would repatriate the refugees to their homes; or prevent the occupation from expanding its settlements, confiscating more lands and escalating its aggression and blockade.

Why wait?!

Our Palestinian people have decided to regain their rights, through their own efforts and with the support of the free people of the world to return to their lands and their homes peacefully, in accordance with international resolutions, laws, and principles of human rights.

Accordingly, refugee men, women and children from various places of refuge will stage peaceful popular marches towards Palestine; raising their national flag and equipped with UN Resolution 194. They seek nothing but to exercise their right of return.

We call on our public: prepare to return; it is your decision; its achievement is long overdue.

We are returning by the will of Allah and the determination of all our steadfast people in the homeland, and in the diaspora.

The Coordinating Committee- The Great Return March (GRM).
Palestine, Monday 12th Feb. 2018

Geneva- the distressing situation of Palestinians stuck on both sides of the Rafah border crossing and inside Cairo airport following the Egyptian authorities’ decision to close the crossing for passengers traveling in and out of Gaza, constitutes a tragedy to many of stranded patients and students, warns the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor.

“security personnel at the airport were holding about 100 people, , in one room, without providing them with food, drink or sleeping blankets”

The Egyptian authorities have allowed the opening of the Rafah border crossing to secure the travel and return of Palestinian citizens out and to the Gaza Strip after a complete closure that lasted about 50 days. The Palestinian citizens were surprised by the Egyptian authorities’ sudden decision to shut it down, only two days after it was opened. This decision coincided with Egypt’s launch of a military campaign in the Sinai Desert, which led to holding hundreds of passengers returning to the Gaza Strip at Cairo airport, as well as on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.

The Egyptian authorities allowed only 650 stranded passengers to head to the Gaza Strip to cross during the opening of the border crossing. Hundreds of other Palestinian citizens are still stranded and held on the Egyptian side of the crossing. Further, the Egyptian authorities have ordered the return of more than 44 vehicles loaded with Palestinians to Cairo Airport again, and refused to let them in.

The number stranded Palestinians at the Egyptian side of crossing, who were wishing to return to the Gaza Strip before the Egyptian army issued a decision to deport them back to Cairo airport, exceeded 400 passengers. They are currently being held in closed halls at the airport, and the airport security informed them to return to the countries they flew in Cairo from.

Hundreds of passengers stuck at Cairo airport have appealed to the Egyptian authorities and the Palestinian embassy in Cairo to hasten their return back to the Gaza Strip or find a solution to end their suffering at the unbearable cells and rooms at Cairo airport.

“200 people are trapped only a kilometer away from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, while military confrontation with militants is only a few kilometers away from them”

Euro-Med received several statements from a number of stranded Palestinians at Cairo airport, saying that security personnel at the airport were holding about 100 people, mostly patients, students and children, in one room, without providing them with food, drink or sleeping blankets. Most of them now cannot afford to buy food.

According to the Euro-Med, another 200 people are trapped only a kilometer away from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing. Mostly, they are patients, children and elderly, while military confrontation with militants and ambushes are only a few kilometers away from them.

Euro-Med calls on the Egyptian authorities to hasten the opening of Rafah crossing for the entry of stranded people near the crossing, to secure those stranded near military ambushes and danger areas and provide them with the necessary humanitarian aid as soon as possible.

Euro-Med also calls on the Palestinian embassy in Cairo to cooperate with the Egyptian authorities to meet the needs of hundreds stranded Palestinians at Cairo airport, to find suitable places for them to stay and to coordinate with embassies of other countries to resolve the issue of expired visas of long-stranded Palestinians at the airport.

Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Saturday evening rising level of alert to defend the Palestinian people from any Israeli aggression.

On his twitter account, Al-Qassam Spokesman, Abu-Obeida, said: “The Brigades have raised the level of alert to protect our people and respond to any Zionist aggression in the light of the ongoing events taking place in northern occupied Palestine.”

The Israeli occupation army announced early Saturday morning that two Israeli pilots were injured –one of them seriously – after their F-16 fighter jet was shot down by Syrian forces in Galilee.

Commenting on the incident of the Israeli fighter, Hamas Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said: “This is a natural response to the continuous Israeli aggression on the Syrian lands.”

He added: “It is the right for all nations to defend their lands and their own security and stability in case they were targeted by any occupation.”

]]>UN rights office issues report on business and human rights in settlements in the occupied Palestinian territoryhttp://gaza.scoop.ps/2018/01/un-rights-office-issues-report-on-business-and-human-rights-in-settlements-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/
Wed, 31 Jan 2018 17:51:54 +0000http://gaza.scoop.ps/?p=5168PRESS RELEASE
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

GENEVA (31 January 2018) – The UN Human Rights Office on Wednesday issued a report detailing its work on producing a database of business enterprises engaged in certain, specific activities in the occupied Palestinian territory that are either explicitly linked to Israeli settlements or form part of processes that “enable and support the establishment, expansion and maintenance of Israeli residential communities beyond the Green Line.”

The UN Human Rights Council mandated the Office in March 2016 to produce a database of all business enterprises engaged in specific activities related to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, in consultation with the Working Group on business and human rights, recalling the illegality of the settlements under international law.*

The Human Rights Council resolution followed the report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem which, in 2013, found that business enterprises had “directly and indirectly, enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the settlements.” The Fact-Finding Mission’s report provided a list of 10 activities that are either explicitly linked to the settlements or enable and support their establishment, expansion and maintenance.

The report details the strict and complex methodology used in carrying out the Human Rights Council’s mandate. The UN Human Rights Office reviewed information that was publicly available or received from a variety of sources about an initial 307 companies. From these, 192 companies were screened in after excluding those that were not covered by the mandate, no longer engaged in the 10 listed activities or about which there were insufficient facts to support the allegations made. In some of the cases, further research revealed 14 additional business entities relevant to the companies that were screened in, including parent companies and their subsidiaries, resulting in a total of 206 companies that were screened in out of a total of 321 reviewed by the end of 2017. The majority of these companies are domiciled in Israel or the settlements (143), with the second largest group located in the United States (22). The remainder are domiciled in 19 other countries.

To date, given the limited resources available, the Office has contacted 64 of these companies, informing them of the listed activities that they appeared to be engaged in. The Office is considering the responses received to date and continues to work on making determinations regarding those companies’ involvement in the listed activities. Once it has been in touch with all 206 companies, and subject to its determinations, the Office expects to release the names of all those companies engaged in listed activities.

Throughout the process, the Office has consulted the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and held extensive discussions with States, civil society, think tanks, academics and others.

“The violations of human rights associated with the settlements are pervasive and devastating, reaching every facet of Palestinian life,” the report recalls. “Owing to settlement development and infrastructure, Palestinians suffer from restrictions on freedom of religion, movement and education; their rights to land and water; access to livelihoods and their right to an adequate standard of living; their rights to family life; and many other fundamental human rights.”

“Businesses play a central role in furthering the establishment, maintenance and expansion of Israeli settlements,” the report adds, stressing that as part of the due diligence process for companies seeking to operate in a complex environment like the occupied Palestinian territory, “business enterprises may need to consider whether it is possible to engage in such an environment in a manner that respects human rights.”

Considering the weight of the international legal consensus concerning the illegal nature of the settlements themselves, as laid out in Human Rights Council resolution 31/36, and the systemic and pervasive nature of the negative human rights impact caused by them, the report notes that “it is difficult to imagine a scenario in which a company could engage in listed activities in a way that is consistent with the Guiding Principles and international law.”**

The report also challenges the explanations put forward by companies involved in the listed activities that the businesses provide jobs to Palestinian families and help to support the Palestinian economy. It states that the presence of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory in fact serves to depress the Palestinian economy and reduce opportunities for Palestinian businesses to thrive, as well as having a direct effect on the job market. The report also emphasizes that the corporate responsibility to respect human rights exists over and above compliance with national laws and regulations. The Guiding Principles require businesses operating in conflict-affected areas – which include areas under occupation – to conduct enhanced due diligence, which entails taking active steps to identify and assess any actual or potential adverse human rights impacts as a result of business relationships. They stipulate that such companies should be prepared to “accept any consequences – reputational, financial or legal – of the continuing connection.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein urged all businesses contacted by the UN Human Rights Office in relation to its mandate under Human Rights Council resolution 31/36 to cooperate with the Office, with a view to engaging in constructive dialogue.

“I am satisfied, given the resource constraints and the unprecedented nature of such a request from the UN Human Rights Council, that significant progress has been made in the Office’s efforts to operationalize the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,” High Commissioner Zeid said. “I urge all sides to avoid misrepresenting the contents of this report, which has been produced in good faith on the basis of the mandate laid down by the Human Rights Council. We hope that our work in consolidating and communicating the information in the database will assist States and businesses in complying with their obligations and responsibilities under international law.”

Contrary to some reports, there was no strike in Gaza today and UNRWA installations across Gaza were not closed because of industrial action.

There was a memorable and peaceful solidarity walk by thousands of UNRWA employees from our office in Gaza City to the UNSCO office to hand over a letter to the President of the General Assembly, expressing concern about funding reductions and their potential impact.

While people stayed away from work for a few hours, UNRWA had a prior deal with the Staff Union that essential services like food distribution would not be disrupted.

The head of Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh called for setting up a national strategy to confront the American and Israeli plans that deliberately target the just Palestinian cause. This came in a speech he delivered on Tuesday in Gaza city.

National Strategy

Haniyeh said that the national strategy should foster Palestinian unity and expedite efforts to achieve reconciliation, noting that adopting resistance as a core pillar for this strategy is very important particularly in light of the utter failure of negotiations.

He added as well that the Palestinian decision should be taken made through national consensus and this entails reconstructing the PLO. Haniyeh hailed the unique Palestinian steadfastness and the Arab and Muslims nations’ reaction in supporting Jerusalem.

Reconciliation

In his specch, Haniyeh said that achieving reconciliation is a very pressing interest for the Palestinian people, noting that there are some thorny challenges that impede achieving it.

He added that Hamas is working hard to resolve all the challenges and has presented a lenient attitude in order to achieve reconciliation as soon as possible, especially for the sake of easing the restrictions imposed on Gaza and the disastrous impact of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions of the Strip.

Relations with Egypt

Haniyeh said that he has received a call from the Egyptian official, Samek Kamel who serves as the responsible official of the Palestinian file, in which he said that Egypt will continue to sponsor the Palestinian reconciliation.

Pence’s Visit

On Mike Pence’s visit to the region, Haniyeh reiterated that the USA has never been a neutral peace mediator, and that the visit was unwelcome.

He also said that Pence’s recent statement in which he announced that the American embassy will be moved to Jerusalem by the end of this year is an attempt to target the Palestinian cause.

Confronting Trump’s decision

Haniyeh said that Hamas stance’s regarding the controversial American decision of recognizing Jerusalem as a state of the Israeli Occupation came in three phases: The first was the furious popular reaction from people who took to the streets to express their refusal of the American decision.

The second was to reactivate the Arab and Muslim nations’ role to back the Jerusalem cause, and lastly to initiate diplomatic calls with leaders in the region to look into the crisis.

He noted that the Palestinian people’s powerful reaction sent out a message that these courageous people will never pass any of these plans and schemes that target their cause.

Refusing settling

Haniyeh said that Hamas totally refuses any plans to settle the Palestinian people in the diaspora, noting that Hamas dismisses the notion of resolving the Palestinian cause and the Jerusalem issue at the expense of Jordan.

He added as well that there are efforts at the moment to build up new alliances in the region that adopt two pillars: adopting resistance, and not to recognize the Israeli Occupation.

Prisoners

Haniyeh said that the prisoners’ issue is fundamental to Hamas, as the movement aims to achieve a dignified prisoners’ swap deal.

He seized the chance and hailed the Arab members at the Israeli Parliament for their supportive stances towards their people’s causes.

Saida’s Crime

Haniyeh denounced the Israeli crime of targeting Hamas operative in Saida, Mohammed Hamdan, noting that the crime is not only targeting Hamas but also the Lebanese state’s stability.

He expressed gratitude for the Lebanese authorities who revealed the real perpetrators, and he held the Israeli Occupation fully responsible for the consequences.

“We came and turned the native Arabs into tragic refugees. And still we dare to slander and malign them, to besmirch their name. Instead of being deeply ashamed of what we did and trying to undo some of the evil we committed we justify our terrible acts and even attempt to glorify them.” Nathan Chofshi, 9 February 1959

REFLECTIONS: US Vice President Pence finally came to our region after some delays because no one would receive him accept his Zionist paymasters. It took four weeks of pressure for him to get the meetings with the Egyptian dictator Sisi and the Jordanian king Abdullah.

Egypt was easier than Jordan.

Jordan had essentially expelled the Israeli ambassador after an Israeli guard murdered two Jordanians.

The compromise made with Zionist pressure (Zionist Kushner and Zionist Greenblatt) was a half-hearted “regret” from the Israeli government and some compensation money. This after Netanyahu still considers the Israeli murders of Jordanians as a heroic action and there will be no penalty for the murderer (mark my words).

Anyways like many things, the Zionists carry big sticks and Pence finally came to dictate the will of his masters.

Some people attribute his slavishness to his Christian Zionist up-bringing. But like Harry Truman who claimed in public that he supported Zionism (against advise of all people around him) for religious reason and to help the “poor Jews”, in private he articulated exactly why he did this: Zionists had money and power over US media to help him win election.

Same for Pence and Netanyahu (or Obama for that matter).

These politicians have no morals and they work for Rothschild more than for their own public.

My wish is that Arab leaders would learn that standing up to Zionists (and by extension to Washington which is also Zionist occupied territory) is not only possible, but is an existential necessity!!

We should learn from Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Lebanon, Yemen, and China the meaning of dignity!

A giant intellectual and kind human being and friend Alan Hart wrote his first book about Yasser Arafat and since then many other books on Zionism and more. Alan passed away January 15 at age 75.

The last message I received from Alan was 27 October 2017 and it has the two most succinct recommendations for us Palestinians which are timely today:

Dear Mazin,

It was good to hear your voice if only briefly and thanks for your message explaining the brevity. I would be able to entertain a small degree of hope if two things could be made to happen.

The first and most important is bringing back to life the PNC [Palestine National Council], refreshed and re-invigorated by elections to it in every place/country where the Palestinians are. This would enable the Palestinian people as a whole to speak to power (and the media and citizens) with one voice, (as Zionism does and always has done). The problem is this requires the Palestinian diaspora to put its act together and become engaged. I understand the reasons why it has not done so yet. Those who live in the Gulf are frightened of offending the corrupt and repressive regimes. And those who live in Europe and North America are frightened of losing their jobs. So yes, it’s a tough call.

The other thing that should happen is that pro-Palestinian groups everywhere should put their act together so that from time to time, when it matters most, they also can speak to power with one voice. They are all small/smallish groups doing their own little thing in splendid isolation and are, in my view, like flies to be swatted away by Zionism. (That’s an exaggeration to make a point nut the point is valid).

I hope, habibi, that you are well aware that my admiration of and respect for the steadfastness of the occupied and oppressed Palestinians is without limit. If any people on earth should have been dehumanized by what has happened to them and is still happening it’s them. They have not been dehumanized but their oppressors have.

Best regards,

Alan

[may those in positions of power listen and may those not in positions of power push those others to do so]

India

India’s Modi and Netanyahu with a delegation of some 130 Israeli apartheid business people marked 25th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations (thanks to Oslo sell-out agreements). Yet, massive demonstration telling Netanyahu to leave India give us hope.

Reminder on Cost Of War

Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered In US War And Occupation Of Iraq: 1,455,590. Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’s War On Iraq: 4,801 . Number of International Occupation Force Troops killed In Afghanistan: 3,430. Total Cost of Wars waged on Iraq & Afghanistan (to benefit Zionism) Since 2001:$1,810,642,204,536 http://www.costofwar.com/ [Nearly trillion directly for Israel and all this will pale compared a war on Iran or North Korea which he elite lobbies in Washington DC are pushing for and it will surely backfire much more tan Iraq, Syria, or Yemen wars waged to serve Israel]

Mental Health Group Urged Not To Meet In Israel

Please circulate this petition, requesting the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy to move their 2019 Conference away from Tel Aviv. It is based on a letter written by a Palestinian psychiatrist, Samar Jabr MD, and a group of American clinicians who have formed the USA-Palestine Mental Health Network. The petition has been launched with the support of JVP.

Not for the first time in its proud history, UNRWA faces a formidable challenge in upholding its mandate – an expression of the will of the international community – and preserving key services like education and health care for Palestine Refugees.

Today, the US government has announced a contribution of $60 M, in support of our efforts to keep our schools open, health clinics running, and emergency food and cash distribution systems functioning for some of the world’s most vulnerable refugees. While important, this funding is dramatically below past levels. The total US contribution in 2017 was above $350 M.

Since UNRWA began its operations in May 1950, every US administration – from President Truman onwards – has stood with and provided strong, generous and committed support to our Agency. The US has consistently been UNRWA’s largest single donor, something we sincerely thank the American people for, and countless American decision-makers – presidents, members of Congress, diplomats and civil servants, who embodied the commitment of assisting a vulnerable people through UNRWA.

Funding UNRWA or any humanitarian agency is the discretion of any sovereign member state of the United Nations. At the same time, given the long, trusted, and historic relationship between the United States and UNRWA, this reduced contribution threatens one of the most successful and innovative human development endeavors in the Middle-East.

At stake is the access of 525’000 boys and girls in 700 UNRWA schools, and their future. At stake is the dignity and human security of millions of Palestine refugees, in need of emergency food assistance and other support in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip. At stake is the access of refugees to primary health care, including pre-natal care and other life-saving services. At stake are the rights and dignity of an entire community.

The reduced contribution also impacts regional security at a time when the Middle East faces multiple risks and threats, notably that of further radicalization.

In addition, the US government has consistently commended our high-impact, transparency and accountability. This was reiterated, once again, during my latest visit to Washington in November 2017, when every senior US official expressed respect for UNRWA’s role and for the robustness of its management.

Faced with the responsibility to preserve operations while now confronted with the most dramatic financial crisis in UNRWA’s history, as Commissioner-General, I am today:

• Calling on the Member States of the United Nations to take a stand and join UNRWA in saying to Palestine Refugees that their rights and future matter.

• Calling on our partners – the host countries and our donors including those in the region – to rally in support and join UNRWA in creating new funding alliances and initiatives to ensure Palestine Refugee students continue to access education in our schools and the dignity of Palestine refugee children and their families is preserved through all our services.

• Calling on people of good will in every corner of the globe where solidarity and partnerships exist for Palestine Refugees to join us in responding to this crisis and #FundUNRWA to ensure that Palestine Refugee girls and boys can stand strong.

• Launching in the next few days a global fundraising campaign to capture the large-scale commitment to keeping our schools and clinics open throughout 2018 and beyond.

At this critical time, I also turn to:

• Palestine Refugees in all of our fields of operations and say: we are working with absolute determination to ensure that UNRWA services continue.

• the students in our schools for example in Aleppo and Damascus, Syria, in Burj El Barajneh and Rashidieh, Lebanon, in Zarka and Jerash, Jordan, in Jenin and Hebron, West Bank, in Jabalyia and Khan Younis, Gaza, to the boys and girls in all Palestine refugee camps and communities, I say: the schools remain open so you can receive your cherished education and remain confident that the future also belongs to you.

• the patients in our clinics, the recipients of our relief, social services, micro-finance and other forms of support, I say you will receive the care and assistance to which you are entitled.

• UNRWA’s full-time 30’000 professional and experienced staff – doctors, nurses, school principals and teachers, guards and sanitation laborers, social and psychosocial workers, administrative and support staff: be at your duty stations to serve the community with the same dedication and commitment that you have always shown. This is a moment for internal cohesion and solidarity. Times are very critical but we will do our utmost to protect you.

We see a Middle-East where conflict, violence and polarization remain ever present and impact the lives of millions of people. We observe a world in which anger reigns, not trust; a world in which power frequently rules, not justice; a world in which what divides is often valued more than what unites, includes and brings together.

The state of the world and the situation of Palestine Refugees is however far too serious and important, to allow ourselves to indulge in pessimism or despair. UNRWA stands for hope, for respect of rights and for dignity. When things are difficult, our determination grows. When the way seems lost, we invest all our energy in search of new paths, keeping our eyes on the horizon and looking for different solutions.

I recall the profound responsibility assumed by the international community of states to assist the Palestine refugees, until a just and lasting solution is found to their plight and the Middle East can finally put this cruel conflict behind it. I also give homage to people of good will around the world who have shown solidarity with Palestine Refugees when they need it most. Now more than ever, the refugees need your support.

Let us draw our strength from the Palestine Refugees who teach us every day that giving up is not an option. UNRWA will not give up either. I ask you to stand with us.

Pierre Krähenbühl

]]>Hamas will not take part in NPC meetinghttp://gaza.scoop.ps/2018/01/hamas-will-not-take-part-in-npc-meeting/
Sat, 13 Jan 2018 20:35:44 +0000http://gaza.scoop.ps/?p=5151PRESS RELEASE
HAMAS

Press release issued by the member at Hamas political bureau, Hussam Badran

Hamas has received an invitation to attend the next meeting of the National Palestinian Council with positivity and appreciation and addressed the matter seriously based on the notion of backing all efforts to unify the Palestinian people in the face of all current thorny challenges.

Hamas sees that the upcoming NPC meeting should be held outside the occupied Palestinian territories to escape from the Israeli pressure and to make way for a real chance for all Palestinian powers to meet and take part in this historical and important phase.

The meeting should be proceeded by a preparatory meeting in which all sides agree upon all the important points to be discussed at the central meeting.

All sides are to participate at the preparatory meeting in order to ensure that the central meeting will take unprecedented decisions that would r rise to the occasion of this historical phase and a firm to stand against the American and Israeli attacks against our Palestinian people.

Devoting its principle of supporting all efforts aimed at unifying the Palestinian people, Hamas held a series of meetings to look into the invitation of the NPC and came up with a result that the current conditions will not pave the way for the NPC to take serious and historical decisions, or to achieve a genuine political review. Therefore, Hamas will not take part in the upcoming meeting.

We will share our thoughts of what is needed from the NPC regarding the current stage in a document that we will be sending later.

In addition, we call upon sides who will take part in the meeting to take decisions that would rise to the occasion.

The Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” rejects the statement that the peace envoy in the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov made and in which he described the Palestinian resistance as being “terrorist”. Mladenov knows precisely that under international law, the real terrorist is the Israeli occupation who kills children, violates sanctities and commits massacres. Hamas also asserts that Mladenov is well-aware that resistance is a legitimate right for any people who live under occupation and the Palestinian resistance came to be because of the occupation, and that its primary role is to restore the stolen rights of the Palestinian people.

The deputy head of the Politburo of Hamas, Saleh Al Arouri warned of Likud’s decision to annex the West Bank and Jerusalem to the occupied lands. “It is just as dangerous as Trump’s decision,” he added.

During an interview with Al Jazeera Channel, Arouri stated, “We, along with our people, will not succumb to the American decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital of the occupation.”

He pointed out that Likud’s decision unleashes settlement construction in the West Bank relentlessly which means eliminating any opportunity for the so-called negotiations based on the international laws to resolve the Palestinian cause.

Al Arouri praised all regional and international efforts rejecting Trump’s decision assuring that any way of resistance will have an impact.

He added: “We expected more effective and practical measures from the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation( OIC) meeting.”

Unity and Resistance

Al Arouri explained that achieving the Palestinian unity and resistance are the only ways to confront the Israeli Occupation and to restore our people’s rights. He also added, “ The Israeli Occupation lives peacefully in the West Bank because it succeeded in deterring the resistance after Palestinian division”

Al Arouri stressed that the Palestinian Authority repressed resistance to stop the Intifada for the sake of the negotiations which have failed. Moreover, he stated that nothing can deter the occupation like the armed resistance.

Reconciliation

Regarding their relation with the Palestinian Authority, Al Arouri assured it has a fundamental problem as the PA has failed to perform its required duty and solve the major issues.

He said, “The reconciliation will not break down. We have reached a certain phase. The talks have been suspended, but we have not backed down and we can resume dialogues.”

Al Arouri added: “The main obstacle facing reconciliation is that the PA demands that resistance must be disarmed.”

He emphasized that Hamas will not serve the occupation or any party by disarming resistance.

Al Arouri stressed that Hamas cannot compare between the conflict with the Israeli Occupation with those conflicts in the region.

He pointed out that the position of Iran from the Palestinian cause is well-known and firm based on not recognizing Israel, adding that Iran is always ready to support the Palestinian resistance.

Al Arouri affirmed that Hamas did not discuss restoring relations with the Syrian regime due to the bloody conflict there.

He asserted that Hamas is keen on a strong and stable relationship with Egypt noting that as long as “Our brothers in Egypt aim to develop relations with us, we are always ready.”

Al Arouri assured that Hamas has excellent relations with all Gulf States and all countries in the region and that the movement has never offended any country. He also added: “We seek good relations with all the Gulf countries and the peoples of the region.”

The decision of the Trump administration to declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and that the US will move its embassy to Jerusalem is a violation of the rights of the Palestinian people, of international law and a number of United Nations resolutions. It is a bipartisan action which is supported by most Democrats and Republicans in Congress and by past presidents from both parties. It once again affirms Washington’s support for the brutal Zionist regime in Israel and its genocidal policies towards the Palestinian people.

The 1947 UN resolution on Palestine took away half of the land of the Palestinian people and gave it to Zionist leaders for a Jewish state. It proclaimed Jerusalem would have a special international administration, recognizing the fact that it held a special standing for the various religions of the people in the region and around the world. These policies were a direct violation of the rights of the Palestinian people. But this was not enough for the Zionist regime. They wanted all of the land of the Palestinian people and so, through a series of military actions and discriminatory policies, much of the Palestinian population was driven from the land and multi-generations today live as refugees in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and other countries of the Palestinian diaspora. The land that was left for the Palestinian people within Palestine has been continually encroached upon, with illegal Jewish-only settlements, destruction and seizure of Palestinian property and land, and the setting up of walls and Jewish-only roads and check points for Palestinians, restricting their movement in their own country. Gaza has become an open-air prison, with the densely packed population refused the right to freely leave Gaza while the Israeli government controls how much food, drinkable water, building materials, electricity and other necessities will be allowed for the beleaguered people to minimally survive.

This most recent move of the Trump administration, knowingly provoking a backlash wreaking more violence and oppression on the Palestinian people, fully exposes Washington’s unqualified backing for Israel’s apartheid regime. This latest outrage must be opposed throughout the United States and the world. We urge all to join these protests or to build actions in your communities.

Return Jerusalem to the Palestinian people!

Free Gaza!

Support Self-Determination and the Right of Return for all Palestinians!

Solidarity with Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against the Zionist State of Israel!

GENEVA (19 December 2017) — The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said Tuesday he was “truly shocked” at the killing of a wheelchair-bound amputee by Israeli Security Forces close to the fence between Gaza and Israel last Friday.

Ibrahim Nayef Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh, a 29-year-old man from Gaza who reportedly had both legs amputated after an Israeli attack on Gaza in 2008, was among hundreds of Palestinians who were marching across farmland towards the fence following Friday prayers on 15 December to protest against the United States’ decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He appears to have been killed by a bullet to the head when he was approximately 20 meters from the fence.

“The facts gathered so far by my staff in Gaza strongly suggest that the force used against Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh was excessive,” Zeid said. “International human rights law strictly regulates the use of force in the context of protests and demonstrations. The lethal use of firearms should only be employed as the last resort, when strictly unavoidable, in order to protect life. However, as far as we can see, there is nothing whatsoever to suggest that Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh was posing an imminent threat of death or serious injury when he was killed. Given his severe disability, which must have been clearly visible to those who shot him, his killing is incomprehensible – a truly shocking and wanton act.”

Since President Trump’s 6 December statement on Jerusalem, protests have been held throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in occupied Gaza, as had been widely predicted. The response by the Israeli Security Forces has resulted in five people being killed, hundreds injured and large-scale arrests of Palestinians. The biggest flashpoint has been in Gaza where three people have been killed as protesters burned tires, threw stones, sang songs and waved flags along the fence. Israeli security forces have responded with firearms, including live-ammunition, to disperse the protesters.

The use of live ammunition has resulted in over 220 people being injured in Gaza, including 95 on Friday alone, in addition to tens of others who sustained injuries from tear gas or rubber bullets.

“This level of casualties raises serious concerns as to whether the force used by Israeli forces was properly calibrated to the threat,” Zeid said. “And these events, including the loss of five irreplaceable human lives, can sadly be traced directly back to the unilateral U.S. announcement on the status of Jerusalem, which breaks international consensus and was dangerously provocative. At the same time, I unequivocally condemn all attacks against civilians, including the indiscriminate shelling of Israeli civilian areas by armed Palestinian groups operating out of Gaza,” Zeid added.

The High Commissioner has on a number of occasions in recent years found it necessary to call on Israel to respect international law standards on the use of force, and in particular of live ammunition.

Reports suggest a preliminary internal Israeli army investigation has taken place. Nevertheless, the High Commissioner called on Israel to immediately open an independent and impartial investigation into this incident, and into all others that have resulted in injury or death, with a view to holding the perpetrators accountable for any crimes committed.

The people of the world are waking up despite the fact that most mainstream media is now “managed” to give that Zionist message of danger about Iran, Hizbollah etc while ignoring the war crimes and crimes against humanity being perpetuated daily by Israel and its puppets like Mohammad Bin Salman.

What media is not managed, is blocked in most of the Arab world run by those dictators.

The mainstream media is complicit in ensuring people are not aware of what is going on.

Imagine if a Muslim sniper shot an American, or a Jewish double amputee who lost his legs to another Muslim attack years earlier? How would the media have reacted.

How would the media react if a dictator who is not friendly to the US was doing what he and his senile father were doing now? They just arrested the rich guys in their country and even visiting rich guys from other countries (like Hariri from Lebanon and Sabeeh Amasri from Jordan) and are stripping them of heir wealth! They are beheading any opposition.

On good news, the growing mass movement exposing Israeli apartheid continues to grow and the Zionists are feeling frustrated that despite increased spending on propaganda by 20 fold over 15 years, the anti-Zionist movement continues to grow. Instead of admitting they need to start to respect human rights, Zionists debate doing more propaganda/hasbara. See this must read report on the analysis by Zionists of their own-movement.

Trump’s illegal move on Jerusalem is backfiring. It exposed all the puppets paying the Zionist movement and bending over backward to please Zionist occupied Washington.It is forcing those who were close to selling it all to begin to back-track. It also exposed what Trump called the deal of the century: profiting rich dictators and sacrificing tens of millions of Palestinians, Egyptians, Yemenis, Hijazis (I refuse to use the term derived from “Saudi Arabia”) and other Arabs.

To be precise the plan is sacrificing the interests of 350 million Arabs and 1.6 billion Muslims for the short term interests sake of a handful of billionaire Zionists and the Jews who foolishly follow them to the edge of the cliff. Short term, the Trump plan is to consolidate Israel’s control over Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied West Bank, settle refugees in Jordan and Sinai and strengthen Israel’s hand. The resistance forces stretching from Lebanon to Iran and Yemen must be weakened to pass this horrible scheme. That is why these resistance forces had to be defeated especially now that Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq won over the US/Israel created and funded “Islamist” militias including the so called “Islamic State”. Yet, the colonial idea of divide and conquer is falling apart as resistance is coming from Shi’a and Sunnis and Chrristians and Kurds and Druse and Yezidis and many others.

Trump made his biggest blunder by his Jerusalem announcement. The Sunni and Shia leaders who gathered in Istanbul included heavy weights like Turkish leader Erdogan and Iranian leader Rouhani. Despite heavy pressure and blackmail from the “Saudi” puppets, Mahmoud Abbas and King Hussain also attended. Much will now happen but Trump and his Zionist son-in-law have only a few more cards they think they can play (but they will be equally catastrophic blunders). Conflict and suffering will ensue but there are no winners in 21st century wars. Spoiled teenage Israel might be the biggest loser of the Zionist gamble. They and their sponsors like Trump think they can manage to continue to exploit and go against the will of the majority of the 1.6 billion Muslims and 2.5 billion Christians (and some 3 million anti-Zionist and post-Zionist Jews). Sorry folks: Jerusalem will not be a “Jewish capital” and not even a capital of apartheid Israel. But the price of arrogance can be high.

Whenever I think the “Israeli army” had sunk to the lowest level, they surprise me more. For an Israeli nipper to assassinate a double amputee in his wheel chair is beyond sick (the civilian Ibrahim Abutharaya had lost his legs to a previous zZionist attack on Gaza). In another case, a child who was jailed at 13 for 3 months for demonstrating was hit in the head and is in critical condition (Mohammedd Tamimi of Nebi Saleh is now 15, and fighting for his life). Words escape me.

An anti-tank guided weapon made in Europe and sold to the United States ended up in the hands of Daesh in Iraq within just two months, the Conflict Armament Research (CAR) group said in a newly-published report. The acquisition of an anti-tank weapon by Daesh exposes the fact the CIA knowingly took great risks to arm extremists in a desperate bid to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad

As for most of us in occupied Palestine we continue to resist in many, many forms. See my book on “Popular Resistance in Palestine: A history of Hope and Empowerment”.

Meanwhile, stay human and come visit us.

Mazin Qumsiyeh
A Bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home
Professor and (volunteer) Director
Palestine Museum of Natural History
Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability
Bethlehem University
Occupied Palestine

Protests continued for the second week across the West Bank and Gaza Strip against President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli Occupation. During the first week of December 2017, nine Palestinians were killed and 611 were injured, according to the Intifada Center.

Moreover, the Israeli Occupation Forces withheld 15 bodies of the Intifada martyrs and arrested 174 citizens, 92 of whom are children. The arrests were concentrated in Hebron, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Qalqilia.

The number of the arrested MPs is now 12, following the detention of Hassan Yousef from Ramallah.

In addition, the Israeli Occupation Forces sentenced the wounded detainee, Moneer Salamah from Jenin Camp to 18 months and a 4000 NIS fine.

The Salem Military Court also sentenced Shera Samouh Hindawi(20 years) to 40 months in prison and a fine of 8,000NIS.

The administration of Israeli Prisons transferred Marwan Al Barghouthi, MP and member of the Central Committee of Fatah, to solitary confinement.

During the second week of December, the Israeli Occupation Forces stationed east of the Gaza Strip continued to open fire at Palestinian houses and lands.

Israeli artillery and aircraft targeted the sites of the Palestinian resistance and empty lands with more than 25 rockets and artillery.

In addition, the Israeli Occupation Forces carried out more than nine attacks on fishermen and fishing boats at sea, and reduced the fishing area to 6 miles despite it being increased to 9 miles a few weeks ago.

In addition, the Israeli Occupation Forces demolished a house in Zimmer town, north of Palestine.

In the same context, the IOF delivered the citizens of Abu Al Nawar in Jerusalem a notice to demolish the only school in their town, and handed over demolition notices to eight houses in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.

According to the site of Intifada, the Zionist settlers continued their daily incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque, with more than 570 Zionists intruders.

The head of Hamas outside Palestine, Maher Salah assured that Jerusalem cannot be divided and Trump’s decision will not change the city’s history or geography.

During his speech at Hamas festival on its 30th anniversary in Lebanon, Salah stated that Jerusalem is the core of the conflict and will remain the eternal capital of Palestine pointing out that Trump’s decision will fail once and for all.

He affirmed that Hamas aims to resist the Israeli Occupation, to liberate the land and Palestinians, and to establish the state of full sovereignty over entire Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.

He pointed out that resistance in all its forms is the strategic choice to achieve freedom, especially after the failure of the so called peace process.

Salah stressed that our people outside Palestine are an essential part of the Palestinian cause, adding that Hamas is working to achieve their demands and aspirations which serve the Palestinian cause.

He called upon the Palestinians outside Palestine to defend Jerusalem adding that Hamas is proud of the steadfastness and the unity of the Palestinians in Lebanon.

Salah called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and to rebuild the Nahr-Al Bared Camp. He also extended his gratitude to the Lebanese leadership and parties for their full support to the Palestinian cause.

He called on the Arab and Islamic peoples to stand firmly to support Jerusalem, to foil any plots against it, to put aside any conflicts in order to confront the Israeli Occupation, to criminalize normalization and to mobilize all efforts for the battle of liberation.

Salah praised the Palestinian resistance and the martyrs who scarified their soul for the sake of Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque.

Salah affirmed the keenness of Hamas to achieve the Palestinian reconciliation and called for national reconciliation on the basis of partnership not exclusion. He also added that Hamas has presented a unique model in the Palestinian national work.

Salah noted that unity and comprehensive understanding between factions is the basis to build a strong society which is able to confront the Zionist project. He also called the Palestinian Authority to lift the sanctions imposed on our people in Gaza Strip.

In 2009, 21-year-old Ibrahim Abu Thurayya, together with some other youngsters, was targeted by an Israeli F16. He lost both legs. On December 15, 2017, Ibrahim was killed by an Israeli sniper on the eastern borders of Gaza while carrying a Palestinian flag and peacefully protesting against American president’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Ibrahim was a wheelchair-bound double amputee!

What is the message that apartheid Israel wanted to send to us, Palestinian, by brutally killing Ibrahim in broad day light?

“There are no red lines! We, The Chosen People, can kill the most vulnerable amongst you regardless of international law and international humanitarian law. You have to accept your status as “two-legged” beasts, “cockroaches” that we must crush, the goyim whose only role is to serve us! We have the US, Arab janissaries and a complicit EU on our side. UN and its SC? They are useless: how many of their resolutions have been implemented? NONE! Jerusalem is ours; in fact, all of Palestine is Eretz Israel”

Ibrahim’s crime? He was a Palestinian at the beginning of the 21st Century living in the most densely populated area on Earth, Gaza. He was not born to a Jewish mother.

Being an Arabic speaking Palestinian who does not understand the English of BBC and CNN, or the Hebrew of Israeli TV Channels, Ibrahim was never able to comprehend the Israeli logic behind the attack that had cost him both legs in 2009.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman do not have to face his family and explain to them as to why they, “men of peace,” had to kill their disabled son. He, together with other Palestinian young men, is to blame for “forcing” the Israeli “boys” to shoot them. They should not have existed in the first place.

“Jerusalem is ours” was one of the last uttered sentence by Ibrahim, as seen on camera; he had never been to Jerusalem, and now he has flown away, with a flock of birds, before reaching the city.

But tens of thousands of Palestinian men responded to Ibrahim; they attended his funeral chanting his name, “Ibrahim, The Martyr of Jerusalem!”

And all I could do is write a poem and sing it in his memory!

Lyrics:

We have a martyr,
His blood runs in my veins,
Whether from Khuzaa or Shejaeyya,
His songs are sung by me,
My martyr is Habibi,
Shahidi, Habibi

Dr Haidar Eid is an Associate Professor at the Department of English Literature, Al-Aqsa University, Gaza Strip, Palestine. He is also a one-state activist and a member of Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).

Head of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said that the will of our people and our nation and the free world will prevent the decision of Trump from being carried out.

Haniyeh said in a televised interview on Al-Quds television Friday evening that the mass rallies that were organized across Palestine and the world, confirm its absolute rejection of Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli Occupation’s capital.

He said, “We are witnessing a major transformation on the ground which means that the US administration is isolated, and these rallies and the ever-growing world consciousness will topple Trump’s decision”. He also called on the masses of the people in Palestine and worldwide to continue and progress with the rallies in support of Jerusalem.

“Fooled are those who believe that our position will only be limited to condemnations and demonstrations”.

Haniyeh elaborated that all Palestinian parties are moving towards a strategic framework on all levels to resist the Israeli Occupation until Palestine is liberated.

On the movement’s part, Haniyeh stressed that Hamas will work at all levels to overthrow the decision, saying that the decision cannot change the reality of history and the identity of the city, which is directly linked to the hearts of Palestinians and Muslims worldwide.

Resistance unites us

He stressed that unity manifests inside Palestinians through our resistance and the Intifada. He added, “Oslo has torn us a part, but resistance will re-unite us”.

Head of the movement pointed out that he had made many contacts with Arab and Islamic leaders regarding Jerusalem, and noted that he received a call from the Emir of Qatar and briefed him on his efforts on Jerusalem.

Haniyeh stressed that huge efforts are underway to adopt and program a strategic framework worldwide in support of Jerusalem.

UN Security Council

Regarding the UN Security Council, Haniyeh demanded the Council to stop the Israeli aggression on Palestine. and the support and covering it relishes from the US administration.

He stressed that Trump’s decision will destabilize the region and world peace.

Hamas’s chief leader thanked the eight countries, particularly Egypt, that requested a security council meeting to study the serious developments.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine announced the cancellation of its planned anniversary events, including the central festival scheduled for Gaza City on Saturday, and transforming those events into marches of anger to confront U.S. imperialism and Zionism following Trump’s declaration on Jerusalem.

In a press conference on Thursday, the Front said that a march will begin on Saturday at 12 noon in Gaza under the slogan, “The revolution continues until return and the liberation of Jerusalem.” The march in Gaza City will be held simultaneously with a march in Ramallah organized by the PFLP.

The Front invited the Palestinian masses in all of their national and popular sectors to participate in these actions and noted that it considers December 11 to be a day of confrontation of the Zionist forces. It also emphasizes that the Palestinian people are entering a new stage of struggle to establish a national strategy in which all Palestinian movements are united to serve the objectives of our people through resistance and confrontation of the occupation in all locations.

The PFLP also emphasized that its march of anger and revolution will raise its voice against U.S. imperialism, Zionist colonialism and Arab reactionary collusion. It demanded the Palestinian Authority end its continued reliance on negotiations and end security coordination with the occupier.

It called on the Arab and Islamic nations and peoples and all supporters of justice in the world to take to the streets and squares to reject Trump’s declaration and to confront all forms of attack against the Palestinian and Arab people.

For its part, the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades emphasized that it is open to targeting U.S. interests, especially on Palestinian land, in response to this action. “We confirm that the U.S. imperialist enemy is not welcome on Palestinian land,” said a spokesperson for AAMB.

The AAMB spokesperson added that the rights of the Palestinian people to their land cannot be revoked by an American decision or an act of any state, and noted that the U.S. puts its interests on the land of Palestine in the eye of the target for Palestinian resistance and the Palestinian people.

]]>Meshal calls for more pressure on US administration to retract its decisionhttp://gaza.scoop.ps/2017/12/meshal-calls-for-more-pressure-on-us-administration-to-retract-its-decision/
Sat, 09 Dec 2017 06:52:48 +0000http://gaza.scoop.ps/?p=5112HAMAS

The former head of Hamas’s Politbureau, Khaled Mehsal, urged for more protests at popular and formal levels across all nations to confront the American decision and pressure the US administration to retract its decision on relocating its embassy to Jerusalem.

In a televised interview on Al Jazeera Friday night, Meshal stated: “What happened today was a crucial and a positive step and the Arab and Islamic nation (Ummah) shall continue on this path to force the US administration to retract its decision”.

On Palestinian level

Meshal also said that the Palestinian factions and all the Palestinian people alike have declared an Intifada across occupied Palestine. “This is a major step, but it’s still not sufficient enough. What we need today is: to consolidate the Palestinian entity and achieve reconciliation without any obstacles. Then we must adopt a unified strategy for resistance which includes the Intifada and resistance in all forms. All decisions and political moves must also be made jointly.

Meshal also pointed out that the Palestinian people have made way for the international community and Arab initiatives, but the result yielded nothing. “Today the issue is about Jerusalem which is a non-negotiable issue. We have no option but to hold on to Jerusalem”.

He also drew attention to the fact that the Palestinian people alone have forced the Israeli occupation to withdraw and retreat during a former battle at the Al Aqsa gates. “They succeeded and achieved victory as the world, except for a few countries, stood idly watching. We are adamant in our belief that we can repeat the same triumphant experience”.

To our great Palestinian people who have stood up to face tyranny and aggression. To our people who have recorded history today in defense of Jerusalem and Al Aqsa. Your voices have been heard today. Your uprising has let the world know that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine. We salute your courageous spirits through which you have taught the whole world lessons on valor, and sent a message that our people are willing to sacrifice their precious souls for the sake of Jerusalem.

The sacrifices which our people have made today in every Palestinian city and town shall ignite the raging anger once again and fuel the coming period.

In light of what happened today in the outbreak of this Intifada, we confirm the following:

1. We call upon all the Palestinian people in all factions to continue with this holy Intifada until all our just demands are met.

2. Our power lies within our unity, especially in the field. Thus, we urge everyone to stand behind the resistance.

3. We call upon all our great people to engage with the Israeli occupation soldiers and settlers everywhere.

4. We confirm that this holy Intifada has reignited and nothing can stop it until all our people’s rights are regained. We call upon the Arab and Islamic Ummah and the free people of the world to support our people and to reveal the ugly face of the Israeli occupation and its ally, the USA.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine described the declaration of US President Donald Trump as a declaration of war against the Palestinian people and their rights that makes the U.S. position clear as a hostile entity toward our people and a partner of the Zionist state in its crimes against the Palestinian people and land, and it must be addressed on this basis.

Further, the Front considered that Trump also launched a “bullet of mercy” on the so-called two-state solution, the settlement project and the delusions of the peace process. It called upon the Palestinian leadership to learn the necessary lessons from the devastating experience of reliance on negotiations and U.S. domination and announce the immediate withdrawal from the Oslo agreement and all subsequent and attendant obligations.

The PFLP called on the Palestinian masses and their organizations to unite their efforts and respond collectively, practically and forcefully to this decision through action and escalation of the momentum of the popular movement.

The battle for Jerusalem is one for all of Palestine. For us, Jerusalem is Haifa, Safad, Yafa, Gaza, Ramallah and every village and city in Palestine.

Further, the Front emphasized the need to confront the triangle of conspiracy against Jerusalem and Palestine and the rights of the Palestinian and Arab people, that of imperialism, Zionism and Arab reactionary regimes, and to open the door to appropriate options to resist these schemes.

The Arab masses also clearly reject this decision, which clarifies further the nature of U.S. imperialism as the primary sponsor of Zionist terror in the region that constantly seeks to ignite the region in order to maintain its hegemony.

Jerusalem will always remain the capital of the Palestinian people and the State of Palestine and the imperialist-Zionist alliance will not succeed in its attempts to obliterate the city’s Arab identity and its status in the Arab and Islamic world.

Trump’s decision dropped the last fig leaf and added the final straw that will indeed reshape Western Asia and Probably the world but not in ways that the Zionists who run the Trump administration planned or wished for. IT IS NOW TIME FOR ACTIONS.

The last fig leaf: Everyone now recognizes that the last fig leaf of the mythical/mirage ”two-state solution” have now ended with this z\announcement by Trump that illegal occupation and annexation of Arab Jerusalem is recognized by the government of the USA. In my 2004 book explaining why and how the “two state” public relations campaign is not a solution but was invented by Ben Gurion in the 1920s to keep the world thinking that Zionists want peace while they consolidated their power and extended their control and then expanded (eventually to the ultimate goal of the “Jewish empire”.

Ben-Gurion was indeed very prophetic when he wrote in his diary that we should give the illusion of accepting to divide the land until we strengthen ourselves and then we will expand to the rest of the country [Erez Ysrael, Nile to Euphrates] “with or without the acceptance of the Arabs” and when he wrote things like “it must be clear that there is no room in the country for both peoples . . . If the Arabs leave it, the country will become wide and spacious for us . . . The only solution is a Land of Israel, at least a western land of Israel [i.e. Palestine], without Arabs. There is no room here for compromises . . . There is no way but to transfer the Arabs from here to the neighboring countries, to transfer all of them, save perhaps for Bethlehem, Nazareth, and the old Jerusalem. Not one village must be left, not one tribe. The transfer must be directed at Iraq, Syria, and even Transjordan” (and indeed 7.5 million of us are now refugees or displaced people). Ben-Gurion also wrote that “We are presently involved not only in a conflict with our Arab neighbors, but, to some extent, with most of mankind as it is organized in the United Nations – because of Jerusalem. Only a blind man does not see that the sources of this conflict are not political, economic or military alone, but also ideological.” The ideology he refers to is Zionism (which s a form of colonialism and obviously incompatible with native interest)

My book documents all the history of plans, collusions, and illusions of peace with colonizers, but if your time is limited, the short chapter on Jerusalem is relevant today.

The last fig leaf has fallen also off of the lie of a “peace process” supposedly led by the US government which in turn has a foreign policy dictated by the Zionist lobby. It is the last fig leaf that protected the Arab leaders from Riyad to Ramalllah who helped Israel get away with ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. It is the last fig leaf that protected the hypocritical Western Leaders from Sydney to Berlin to London to Washington who speak of International law and did everything in their power to physically support and fund an apartheid state that violates just about every provision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention and countless UN resolutions (both UN security council and general assembly resolutions). It even violates the provisions of Israel’s own admission to the UN and should have long been expelled from the UN.

The LAST STRAWS: As the fig leaves have all fallen, the insults to the Arab, Islamic, AND Christian world accumulated to the breaking point. Nearly 70 years have passed (1948-1949) since Zionists depopulated West Jerusalem of its Christian and Muslim Population and 50 years have passed since Zionists illegally (per UN resolutions) occupied East Jerusalem and then illegally annexed it to the illegal apartheid state of Israel in the process causing further ethnic cleansing, so that Jerusalem has been changing from multi-religious and multicultural to the (mainly Ashkenazi) Zionist-Jewish city. Israel has been doing slow torture hoping to drive the remaining Palestinians out of Jerusalem “circumspectly” (as Ben-Gurion also once put it). I say the last straw because this extreme fascist government of Israel that took the final decision to move the US Embassy now appears in full control of the US administration (before there was some thought that is only 95% control). This will break the backs of many camels. To be specific and to start with the first line of camels Arab regimes that were having huge difficulty anyway balancing loads left and right. Loads include normalization with Zionism and imperialism thinking this will guard their regimes (it will not, many US/Israeli puppets were abandoned once their utility expired). Loads also include the heavy load of their people who hate hypocrisy and sympathize with suffering people whether in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and perhaps especially in Palestine (the Holy Land). Loads also include their ever deteriorating economies thanks to their corruption, nepotism, lack of democracy, and lack of transparency. These regimes will now have to reevaluate the strategy: stay the current course of collusion leading to their demise or answer their people’s calls: join the resistance, organize, and ACT (not just issue empty words).

I predicted in previous blogs that this would happen and I predicted that mayhem and violence will follow and I think all Zionist leaders also see this and predicted it. But their fatal mistake is thinking that they can have “manageable conflicts” that keep their neighbors and victims busy (divide and conquer). Now Zionists in the White House like colonial advocate Kushner are pitting the US against the whole Arab, Islamic, and even Christian world. Their last three bets of this nature were mostly failures (Iraq, Syria, Yemen). They have also failed so far to get the US to attack Iran for them (as they did with Iraq). They are failing to get Saudi Arabia to fight a war in Lebanon (thanks to Lebanese strong civil society). So like a gambler who keeps losing; they are now going for the jack-pot of a global religious war over Jerusalem that they think they will come out victorious and rulers of the world (the reality is a nuclear war that will end Homo sapience). Zionists and their puppets MUST fail like before. But we need to ACT now to stop it. We need all collaborators to see the danger (even to themselves). It is urgent and existential struggle.

The people of Palestine are of course the first and main line of defense for our country. My sister Sahar wrote a blog about this from her (Christian) perspective that I thought brought out a good analogy of why this could be the last straw for the people.

The South African BDS movement issued a call to action that included this: “Actions speak louder, it is the time for concrete steps to hold Israel accountable for its unlawful annexation of Palestinian land and its oppression of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and all other Palestinians.” How to act? I say be proactive not reactive, plan, and above all ORGANIZE. Here are 70 ways to act

I would add: cut off all contacts with the US administration. Any decent Arab or Muslim leader would do that. Any who does not, needs to answer to the people.

The American president’s announcement of his decision to recognize Jerusalem as “Israel’s” capital will have very severe repercussions in Palestine, the Arab world and the Islamic arena.

This is an illegitimate and ill-advised decision, which contradicts international laws and resolutions, and violates the sanctity of the holly city of Jerusalem.

It is refused and will be resisted by all the Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and free peoples of the world.

Jerusalem (Bait Al-Maqdes) is a sacred city for both Muslims, Christians and legitimate Jews. It is the united capital of Palestine. It will always be a Palestinian city.

We, in Hamas, call upon the Arab and Muslim Ummah and the free peoples of the world to stand firm and united against this dangerous decision, and support the Palestinians in their continuous struggle to liberate their homeland and establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

This American move serves as a blatant reminder and a loud wake-up call to all Arab and Muslim countries and leaders that their true and only enemy is the illegitimate Zionist Occupation. All their efforts and means should be directed towards uprooting this occupation, freeing Palestine and returning the Palestinian refugees to their homeland.

Dr. Maher Salah
Head of Hamas in Diaspora
7-12-2017

]]>Haniyeh: Following days will be met with ragehttp://gaza.scoop.ps/2017/12/haniyeh-following-days-will-be-met-with-rage/
Thu, 07 Dec 2017 22:59:25 +0000http://gaza.scoop.ps/?p=5102HAMAS

Head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” Ismail Haniyeh, has called upon the Palestinian people, Arab and Islamic nations to launch a new uprising and resist the Israeli Occupation in response to Trump’s announcement of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the Zionist Occupation.

In a televised speech on Thursday, Haniyeh said, “Let tomorrow be a day of rage and the beginning of an effective uprising very much like the previous one that was ignited by our people in Jerusalem”.

He stressed the ability of the Palestinian people to confront the unjust American decision.

Haniyeh also called for the establishment of a national strategy to confront the on-going conspiracy against Jerusalem and Palestine, calling for an urgent Arab and Islamic summit to face the US decision.

Hamas’s Chief leader stressed that the city of Jerusalem is a unified Palestinian capital that can’t be divided, reiterating Hamas’s position of not recognizing the legitimacy of the Zionist entity on the land of Palestine.

Arrangement of the Palestinian scene

Haniyeh called for the need to arrange the Palestinian affairs and priorities in the face of this plot and the flagrant decision, calling on the Palestinian Authority to declare the end of the process of settlement and decomposition of this Convention.

“I say to the Authority, there must be a clear and unambiguous decision to get out of the dark chapters of the Oslo Accord”.

Haniyeh called for speeding up the steps of reconciliation and national unity, calling for an urgent Palestinian meeting to face Trump’s latest decision and re-establish the PLO to confront the occupation and the unjust US political decisions towards Jerusalem and Palestine.

“ The Palestinian Authority must immediately lift the imposed sanctions on our people in the Gaza Strip and terminate security collaborations with the Israeli Occupation to pave way for armed resistance in the West Bank in response to this provocative decision”.

The Arab nation

Haniyeh called on the Arab and Islamic nations to confront this decision and support the Palestinian cause in its struggle for freedom.

He also demanded that nations in the region – in the face of this strategic challenge that threatens the status of Jerusalem – to stop the conflicts and reduce tensions and gather support for Jerusalem and the Palestinian people, and boycott the US administration in light of its complicity in depriving Palestinians of their rights.

“Arab normalization with the Israeli Occupation gave the US administration much needed support to carry out this malicious plot”.

Haniyeh praised the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to hold an urgent Islamic summit to face the unjust American decision.
General rage

In his televised statement, Haniyeh also announced that the following days will be met with angry mass protests in order to transfer the Palestinian struggle to a new decisive phase.

He added that our people and factions of the resistance are closely observing the new developments in order to address this strategic threat that threatens the city of Jerusalem.

In conclusion of his speech, the Hamas leader stressed that the his movement’s struggle is solely with the Israeli occupation, and that its weapons will only be directed towards the occupation.

Member of the Politburo of Hamas, Khalil Al Hayyah, assured that the success of the reconciliation is based on a national partnership.

During a consultative meeting with the factions in Gaza, he asserted Friday that the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank need a real reconciliation which excludes no-one.

Al Hayyah affirmed that Hamas is more motivated to continue in the path of reconciliation indicating that the American-Israeli objections to reconciliation must not deter or hinder us from moving forward.

He noted that the reconciliation is a religious, national and political duty to rebuild our institutions.

“We must be true partners, no one shall exclude the other,” he said.

Al Hayyah stated that it is important to agree on specific dates in Cairo, and to hold elections during a period that does not exceed 6 months.

The head of the Politburo of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh said that Hamas will discuss in the upcoming talks in Cairo the mechanisms needed to implement the 2011 Cairo Agreement and that the movement will not sign any new agreements.

During a meeting with students organized by the Islamic University Student Council Haniyeh said that Hamas signed many agreements in the past starting with Agreement 2005, Mecca 2007, Sanaa 2009, Cairo 2011, Shati 2014 and Beirut 2017, adding that all we need now is implementation on the ground.

Haniyeh affirmed that many issues have to be discussed and prioritized in the upcoming dialogues, namely the management of Gaza and West Bank affairs. He added that the PA and its institutions have to carry out this mission prior to holding elections.

Haniyeh stated that the second issue is the leadership of the PLO, and the third is the agreement on a joint national political program.

He explained that the first phase of implementation of the reconciliation agreement was accomplished by Hamas with full commitment as was demonstrated in dissolving the administrative committee, handing over the crossings, welcoming the government to Gaza and accepting to participate in a comprehensive dialogue this month in Cairo.

Haniyeh thanked all the ministries and their employees and police members for setting a great example in embracing the Palestinian reconciliation as demonstrated in handing over the crossings and securing the Arafat festival held yesterday at Al-Saraya in Gaza.

He pointed out that reviewing the Palestinian, Israeli, regional, and international scenes under the supervision of the American administration led us to the conclusion that the Palestinian reconciliation is a legitimate and national necessity.

He emphasized that Hamas is well aware of the plots in the region to dismantle it in order to achieve the Zionist project. In return, Hamas is following the strategy of the national unity to protect the Palestinian cause.

Haniyeh stated that the aim of this plot is to settle the Arab- Israeli conflict in order to serve the strategic superiority of the enemy for the sake of western power in the region.

Haniyeh paid tribute to the soul of the late President, Yasser Arafat, and to the masses who commemorated the 13th anniversary of his martyrdom in Saraya and Katiba in Gaza.

The member of the Politburo of Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzouq, called for separation between the presidency of the Palestine Liberation Organization(PLO) and that of the Palestinian Authority. He stated the need to gather all the Palestinian factions and PA under the umbrella of PLO.

During a seminar held in Istanbul under the title,“ Developing and activating the Palestinian political system”, Abu Marzouq pointed out Saturday that the Palestinian system is based on two main institutions: the Palestinian Authority, and the PLO.

He explained that the PA has developed and evolved away from the provisions of Oslo Agreement, noting that there’s always more room for further development of the Palestinian system.

Abu Marzouq stated that sovereignty in the Palestinian issue has limited dimensions due to the occupation. He stated that the establishement of an independent Palestinian state is not wishful thinking nor is it something separated from the international community. He added that everyone knows that there are countries in the region fighting the Palestinian identity and that the Palestinian cause and its political system have intrinsic differences to other states in the region.

Abu Marzouq drew attention to the fact that there is a real absence of a national project, which has had a great impact on the Palestinian cause for long time.

He asserted that Hamas has been through many experiences; something which qualified it to be a part of the Palestinian political system and the PLO. But by no means is Hamas convinced of the agreements signed by the PA and the PLO.

Abu Marzouq reiterated the refusal of Hamas to bargain on the arms of resistance because of its serious consequences. Handing over the weapons will ultimately lead to giving up sovereignty.

Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” said the following:

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, is appalled by the on-going security collaboration between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Occupation in the West Bank, which is considered the greatest danger to the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to resist the occupation.

We call on the Palestinian people to reject this collaboration and exert pressure on the PA to terminate this shameful policy that harms the interest of our people and proceed towards achieving the national reconciliation in the upcoming Cairo talks.

The deputy head of the Politburo of Hamas in Gaza, Khalil Al Hayyah stated that the next phase calls for a national unity government comprising all Palestinian factions so it may assume the the responsibility of the phase. He added “It can be a national salvation government until elections are held.”

On a television interview with Al Aqsa channel, Al Hayyah assured Wednesday evening that Hamas believes that the next government must abide by the program of the national reconciliation document and must not promote any political agendas.

He pointed out that the first stage of the reconciliation process was successful and what was agreed upon in Cairo is running smoothly. Al Hayyah asserted that both parties agreed to set aside all disputes.

Al Hayyah affirmed that two issues still have to be completed; the public employees issue must be resolved through an administrative and legal committee in addition to the security issue is yet to be discussed.

He added:“ This is a win-win situation and we shall move forward on the basis of partnership and non-exclusion”.

Al Hayyah emphasized that what happened during the handover of crossings was a mistake. He assured that Hamas completely handed over the crossings to facilitate the work of the government adding that it is not acceptable to have the same mistakes in other ministries.

Al Hayyah noted that the administrative and governmental committee agreed to be restructured under the chairmanship of deputy prime minister, Ziyad Abu Amr in addition to three experts from Gaza. He also confirmed that in the event that any violations of what was agreed upon happen, Hamas will be free from any obligations.

Al Hayyah stressed that the security issue must be fully resolved and the security apparatus should be reconstructed under the Egyptian auspices.

He expressed the solidarity of Hamas with those who have suffered ,“ the massacre of salaries” and early retirement pointing out that the employees issue needs a national spirit that believes in partnership.

Al Hayyah stated that there is national consensus that PLO needs to be reconstructed to include all Palestinian factions.

He referred to the presence of a clear legal text on activating the Palestinian Legislative Council in accordance with the law adding that the executive power must go hand in hand with the legislative authority .

On the issue of freedoms in the West Bank, Al Hayyah stated that every Palestinian in Gaza and West Bank must feel protected by the reconciliation. He added that Hamas members in West Bank must feel the freedom which the reconciliation offers in the same way Fatah members do in Gaza.

He concluded that the 2011 Agreement is applicable and Hamas is committed to it word by word adding that if we disagree on something we shall discuss it together under the Egyptian auspices and no party shall interpret any text individually.

Tawfiq Abu Naim at a prisoner event in Gaza City (Photo: Julie Webb-Pullman)

The first question to identify the perpetrator in any criminal investigation is inevitably: who benefits?

In the case of yesterday’s cowardly assassination attempt in Nuseirat on Major General Tawfiq Abu Naim, the General Commander of Internal Security Forces in Gaza, it could have several answers.

The most obvious are the Israeli occupation authorities, who were quick off the mark to “blast” the recent Palestinian reconciliation deal, and local Salafist groups who international media have been quick to point the finger at – which in itself should raise suspicions about the media’s motives. The connections between Salafist groups and Islamic State, and Islamic State and Israel are all too close for comfort….. ultimately leading back to the same perpetrator.

Another possibility is disgruntled Fatah members with no genuine commitment to the reconciliation agreement. It is an open secret that conditions in Gaza and the West Bank have not improved – the Palestinian Authority Security Services detentions and arrests of members of other factions in the West Bank has not even slowed, let alone ceased since the signing of the agreement. Gaza still suffers with 4 hours of electricity a day, employment insecurity, and perilous living conditions following the World Food Programme decision to stop all food aid to Gaza from the beginning of October.

It is no secret that Hamas has complied with every aspect of its commitments under the deal, and more. Similarly, some in Fatah are also doing their best to make the reconciliation work.

But others are clearly dragging their heels.

Let us hope that that is all they are doing.

While targeted assassinations of Palestinian political leaders are an only too-familiar weapon in the Israeli arsenal, so too are the not-infrequent results: an all-out military offensive against Gaza.

Ahmad Al Jabari, the operational commander of Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, was killed in an Israeli strike on a car in Gaza City on 14 November 2012, precipitating eight days of carnage in Gaza in which, according to OCHA, 174 Palestinians were killed, 101 of whom were civilians, including 33 children and 13 women. Hundreds of persons were injured.

The sabotaging of Palestinian reconciliation attempts seems to be following the same pattern.

The last agreement signed in May 2014 was thwarted after cynical political manipulation by the Israeli occupation authorities of a kidnapping incident in the West Bank, to justify over 50 days of brutal civilian massacres in Gaza. Several thousand more Palestinians lost lives, limbs and loved ones to that exercise in Israeli attempted expansionism.

The ceasefire was not the end of it. Almost daily breaches by the Israeli occupation have been a hallmark since 2014.

But Hamas and the resistance have refused to be drawn.

The assassination of Hamas military leader Mazen Fuqaha outside his home in March this year, the most provocative to date, was met with admirable restraint from the Palestinian resistance, demonstrating their strong desire to preserve the peace – and moral high ground.

Yesterday’s attack – outside a mosque on the holy day – further ups the ante, combining both the attempted assassination of another highly and widely respected Hamas leader, another tireless fighter for Palestinian and prisoners’ rights, AND the sabotage of reconciliation efforts.

Is this the second salvo this year in a furtive war on Palestinian unity, on Palestinian self-determination, and on Palestinian hopes for a peaceful and productive future?

As the Palestinian Security Services continue their investigations to identify those responsible – and they will – Palestinians must stand strong and continue with the reconciliation effort, because if this latest attack teaches us even just one thing, it is that Palestinian unity is perceived as a massive threat to the grossly unjust and illegitimate status quo.

Whatever the reservations, and however slow the apparent progress, that alone is reason enough to persevere with reconciliation – it is the least that is owed to the honourable men whose blood has been shed this year.

The Egyptian Intelligence Service phoned the leadership of Hamas to check on the health of Tawfiq Abu Naim, the General Commander of Internal Security Forces who survived a failed assassination attempt on Friday noon.

The Egyptian Intelligence condemned the cowardly act and confirmed their solidarity with Abu Naim and the leadership of Hamas.

In return, the leadership of Hamas thanked the Egyptian Intelligence for their efforts in following up the developments of the Palestinian cause.

It is worth noting that Naim was injured after his car was bombed in Nuseirat refugee camp. He is being treated at hospital and his wounds were described as moderate.

The spokesperson of Hamas Movement , Fawzi Barhoum issued the following

The assassination attempt which targeted the General Commander of the Internal Security Forces in Gaza and one of Hamas leaders, Tawfiq Abu Naim is a cowardly act committed by the enemies of the Palestinian people. This act aims to target the security and stability of Gaza and the unity of our people and their national reconciliation. We urge the security forces to arrest the criminals, to prosecute them before court and to crack down on anyone who dares to tamper with the security and stability of our people